The Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State, Hon. Gentle Emelah has called on female engineers in the state to continue to be good role models to the girl child.
Emelah stated this while responding to a speech presented by the Bayelsa State Chairman, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Engr. Ifiemi Ocholi-Tulagha in the state capital, Yenagoa recently.
While commending members of APWEN for the roles they are playing in the development of the oil and gas rich state, he charged them to do more to enhance the education of the girl child in the years ahead.
Emelah also stressed the need for them to continue to contribute to the development of the society just as he pointed out the need for them to be role models to the younger generation of girls in the state.
He assured Ocholi-Tulagha and her delegation of the support of state government led by Senator Douye Diri in the attainment of set goals and objectives.
According to him, the administration of Governor Diri will always give support to anyone or group ready to work for the sustainable development of the state.
Ocholi-Tulagha had earlier on behalf APWEN delegation at Education House, the corporate headquarters of the Ministry of Education, felicitated with Emelah on his appointment as a member of the state executive council (SEC).
She revealed that APWEN is the umbrella body for all female engineers in the country and the state chapter is geared to deliver the purpose for which it was established over the years.
She explained that APWEN mandate is to correct the stereotype in the society that seem to relegate the girl child and more importantly discouraging her from taking up science related fields like engineering.
According to her, members of the body are out to encourage fellow women to strive for excellence in any given field both in career and leadership. Some of our programmes include award of scholarships to deserving young girls, conducting science based competitions among girls in primary and secondary schools, career talks among other activities to boost female education in the state.
She called for partnership with the Ministry of Education in order to improve girl child education with emphasis on the engineering profession.
